Low-sulfur reforming prosesses

摘要

There is disclosed a catalytic reforming method in which hydrocarbons are treated in a reactor system to produce an aromatics enriched product, said reactor system comprising: (a) a series of reactors (10,20,30), containing a catalyst bed comprising a sulfur sensitive zeolite reforming catalyst, and each being associated with (b) a respective furnace (11,21,31) each comprising a plurality of furnace tubes for heating hydrocarbons to an elevated temperature in the range of from 850 to 1025 F suitable for reforming, (c) a heat exchanger (12); and (d) a separator (13) for separating an aromatics enriched product from effluent gas; said method comprising passing hydrocarbons through said reactor system to contact the hydrocarbons with the reforming catalyst in said reactors and separating said aromatics enriched product from said effluent gas; wherein: (i) hydrocarbons are reformed in each of said reactors under low sulfur reforming conditions of less than 50ppb sulfur; and (ii) at least the furnace tubes of the reactor system are protected from carburization and metal dusting. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also described.